Peter R. Goble

Peter R. Goble

There is no better history more eagerly sought than that which truthfullydelineates the rise and progress of the state, county or community inwhich we live. There is pleasure as well as profit to every inquiringmind in contemplating the lives and struggles of the early settlers inall parts of the great west; how they encountered and overcame everyspecies of trial, hardship and danger to which human beings weresubjected. But it strikes more forcibly and fills the mind with moreimmediate interest when confined to the county or township where one maymeet some representative of the gray-haired actors in those early scenes,whose rugged days are almost spent, and whose bravery and fortitude inencountering and overcoming the hardships of pioneer life are nowrecognized as the corner-stone in the grand commonwealth under which wenow live, and whose deeds, in connection with hundreds of others in thefirst settlement of our vast domain, have compelled the civilized worldto acknowledge Americans to be invincible.

One of the potent factors in the pioneer period of Huntington county,Indiana, is the venerable gentleman whose name appears above, and who hasborne well his part in bringing this section of our commonwealth to thefront in all that relates to its prosperity and present advanced state ofenlightenment and civilization. Peter R. Goble was born in Perry county,Ohio, near the town of Somerset, on the 20th day of February, 1824. Hisparents, Peter and Hannah (VanScoy) Goble, were early settlers in theabove county, and there reared a large family, thirteen in all. By asecond marriage he became the father of three other children, making afamily of sixteen, the major portion of whom grew to maturity and becameheads of households.

When a boy the subject of this sketch learned the cooper's trade in hisfather's shop, and for several years worked at the same in the county ofhis nativity. Subsequently he became proficient as a stonemason, and foreight years followed that trade during the summer months, devoting thewinter seasons to the manufacture of barrels. He also paid closeattention at times to farming, and from his earnings in these differentoccupations managed to lay by a considerable sum of money, sufficient toenable him to establish a home of his own, and on March 23, 1845, he wasmarried to Miss Caroline Groves, a young lady who had been his playmatefrom youth. In October, 1849, Mr. Goble and his little family moved bywagon to Huntington county, Indiana, consuming twelve days, making thetrip with many difficulties by reason of the almost impassable conditionof the roads. On reaching his destination he located in Clear Creektownship, where he purchased eighty acres of land, paying for the samethe sum of three dollars and a quarter per acre. When he moved into thelittle cabin, which had been previously erected for the reception of thefamily, fully two-thirds of the place was under water, and the remaindercovered with a dense growth of timber--elm, poplar and walnutpredominating. The dwelling, situated in the midst of a thick wood, wasreached by a narrow road cut through the timber and swamp, and theprospect was anything but encouraging. Deer and other wild animalsroamed the woods, and but little skill was required to keep the tablesupplied with the choicest kinds of meats, while the small fruits whicheverywhere abounded afforded an agreeable variety to the bill of fare.

Mr. Goble addressed himself to the labor of making a farm with heroicfortitude, and in time succeeded in clearing a respectable area, whichwas planted with corn, potatoes and other vegetables, all of whichyielded abundantly. By means of drainage the fertility of the soil wasgreatly enhanced, as was also its value, and to this feature Mr. Goblegave particular attention. By much labor and patient waiting his effortswere at last crowned with most gratifying success, and a fine farm, withall modern improvements, replaced the dreary wilderness of swamp andwoods. Here he lived and prospered, increasing the value of his estateby adding improvements year after year until 1888, when he became thepossessor of a competency sufficient in volume to enable him to pass theremaining years free from care. Accordingly he retired from active lifeto the village of Goblesville, so named in compliment to him.

Clear Creek township has been blessed with few men as energetic andprosperous as Peter R. Goble. He is a striking example of what strongarms, and undaunted will, and intelligence directed and controlled byhigh moral principles can accomplish in the fact of opposing conditions. With no education beyond that obtained in a poor subscription school,taught in a little cabin two miles distant from his father's house, he isnevertheless a remarkably well-informed man, and with no capital save aninborn determination to succeed he has acquired a fortune more than amplefor his own wants, besides giving to his children sufficient to enablethem to start in life with every prospect of success. In early life hemanifested strong religious convictions which led him to unite with theUnited Brethren church, and from that time to the present, a period ofover sixty years, his daily acts have been such as result from the faithhe professes. For a number of years he was class-leader in the localcongregation to which he belongs, and it may be truthfully said that hiswhole life is a grand, simple poem of rugged, toilsome duty, faithfullyand uncomplainingly performed toward God and his fellow men. While pastthe allotted three-score-years-and-ten Mr. Goble is still in possessionof his mental powers, and with the exception of the usual infirmitiesincident to old age is quite active and vigorous. He recalls with muchpleasure and satisfaction the scenes of his early trials and struggles asa pioneer, and looks back over a long and well-spent life with few if anyregrets.

All who know the kindly old gentleman unite in sounding his praises andextolling his virtues, and it is the wish of his many neighbors andfriends throughout Clear Creek that his days may yet be many in the land,and that his influence may still be exerted in behalf of all that is goodin life. His good wife, with whom he has traveled hand in hand throughsuccess and trial, joy and sorrow for over a half-century, is stillliving to be a companion and solace as he proceeds onward in the twilightof life's journey. She was born in the state of Ohio April 15, 1827, andis the mother of nine children, whose names are as follows: Samuel,deceased; John; Amos, deceased; Hannah, wife of David Barsh; Isaac;Aaron, deceased; Harriet, deceased; Adaline, deceased; and Shirley,deceased.

Thus briefly has been set forth the salient features in the career ofthis venerable gentleman and worthy citizen. Of faults, if any, theywere few, but overshadowed by the many virtues which have crowned hislife. His good name has never been impeached, and his example iscertainly worthy of emulation by young men fortunate enough to have livedwithin the sphere of his influence.